Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is expected to miss 8-12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Kiermaier suffered the injury in the first inning against the Phillies on Sunday when he slid headfirst into second base. An MRI on Monday morning revealed the extent of the injury.

We have placed OF Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day DL (torn right thumb ligament). He underwent an MRI this morning and will require surgery after suffering the injury in yesterday's game. pic.twitter.com/4gP86XEsmD

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This marks the third consecutive year in which Kiermaier will miss extended time during the regular season. He broke his left wrist in 2016 (missed 48 games) and fractured his right hip last season (missed 61 games).

"It's beyond frustrating," Cash said. "We are all tired of KK getting hurt and there's nothing he can do about. He goes about his business as hard as anyone in the game. It was a typical KK play. Busting around to second base."

Kiermaier, much like the Rays (3-12), was struggling through the start of the season batting .163 with one RBI. His poor play, coupled with another long-term injury, has the 27-year-old understandably upset.

"It's just another freak accident. I can't believe I'm saying this for a third year in a row now," he said Sunday (via the Tampa Bay Times). "The hardest part about all this is I feel like I let a lot of people down. My teammates, the community, coaches. I harped on this in spring training all year, I said I just want to stay healthy for my teammates and put my talents on display for a full year, and that's in jeopardy right now."

Now without Kiermaier patrolling center, Tampa could give rookie Johnny Field the job or shift Carlos Gomez from right field to a spot where he's made 1,030 career starts.